Tap water, mineral water, table water – what’s the difference?

Is tap water healthy? In Germany, the answer is clear: according to the Consumer Advice Centre, the quality of tap water is good to very good everywhere – it can be drunk without hesitation. Nevertheless, natural mineral water and table water sit side by side on the drinks shelf, and each of these terms is defined by law. Here you can read about what the Drinking Water Ordinance and the Mineral and Table Water Ordinance stipulate, what you should look out for if you have old pipes in your home, what is known about minerals and microplastics – and why our Still and Sparkling cans are labelled ‘table water’.

Tap water: strictly regulated and monitored

Tap water is drinking water within the meaning of the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV). It regulates the quality of the water, its treatment, the obligations of water suppliers and monitoring, and sets limit values, for example for nitrate, lead, copper and uranium. Among other things, the Ordinance requires that drinking water be ‘pure and fit for consumption’. The Public Health Authority monitors water supply systems to ensure that these requirements are met.

Large water suppliers are even required to test drinking water several times a day. Compliance with legal requirements stands at over 99 per cent, and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) certifies that tap water is of good to very good quality. The UBA ranks drinking water amongst the most closely monitored foodstuffs.

You can find out the exact composition of your water from your water supplier: they are obliged to provide the results of the water analysis, and these are usually available online as well. According to the UBA, additional filters or water treatment devices are generally not necessary. Bacteria can even multiply in filters that are not replaced regularly – the UBA therefore advises against using such devices.

The final stretch: domestic plumbing, stagnation and lead pipes

The water supplier is responsible for water quality up to the point of entry into the building. The homeowner or operator is responsible for the pipework inside the property and the quality of drinking water within the building, whilst users are responsible for taking regular samples. According to the UBA, if limit values are exceeded, this is often due to the pipework inside the properties.

Drain off any stale water

If water has been sitting in the tap for four hours or more, let it run for a short while until it feels slightly cooler against your fingers. You can use the water that has run off to water your flowers, and it’s best to fill your saucepan from the cold tap. As a general rule, you shouldn’t use hot tap water for drinking or cooking.

Lead pipes: What tenants need to know

The Drinking Water Ordinance requires operators to remove or decommission lead drinking water pipes by 12 January 2026; the Public Health Authority may extend this deadline upon application. According to the UBA, lead pipes are now found only in buildings constructed before 1973; houses built after that date are not affected. Lead pipes are softer than copper or steel pipes, can be easily scratched with a knife and appear silver-grey.

• If you’re unsure, ask your landlord, the property management company or the property owner when the pipes were laid and what material they’re made of.
• If you do not receive a satisfactory response, please contact your local public health authority.
• Water from lead pipes is never suitable as drinking water for pregnant women, infants and children up to the age of six. The UBA recommends bottled water labelled ‘Suitable for preparing infant formula’; it does not consider filters designed to remove lead to be effective.

Natural mineral water: officially recognised, bottled at source

Natural mineral water is not subject to the Drinking Water Ordinance, but to the Mineral and Table Water Ordinance (Min/TafelWV). According to this, it must originate from underground water sources protected from contamination, be ‘of original purity’ and be characterised by its content of minerals, trace elements or other constituents.

Two rules set it apart from all other types of water: natural mineral water may only be sold if it officially recognised is, and it must bottled at the source . Only a few processes are permitted during production, such as the removal of iron and sulphur compounds, and the removal or addition of carbon dioxide. The composition of the minerals must not be altered; you will find this on the label.

Table water: the third type of water on the shelf

Table water is water that contains one or more specific ingredients. It is produced from drinking water or natural mineral water; the only additional ingredients permitted are natural brine, seawater, sodium chloride and magnesium chloride. Table water can be produced and bottled anywhere and, in the catering trade, may also be served from tap systems. The designation ‘table water’ is mandatory.

Minerals and electrolytes: How much is there in the water?

Many people believe that mineral water is automatically rich in minerals. This is not true: mineral water does not have to contain a specific amount of minerals to be called ‘mineral water’. Many types of mineral water contain only small amounts – some tap water actually provides more. In any case, the body obtains most of its calcium and magnesium from food.

The label will tell you which mineral water is right for you. Certain claims are subject to minimum or maximum limits:

• ‘with a very low mineral content’: no more than 50 mg/l, ‘with a low mineral content’: no more than 500 mg/l, ‘with a high mineral content’: more than 1,500 mg/l
• ‘calcium-rich’: more than 150 mg of calcium per litre, ‘magnesium-rich’: more than 50 mg/l
• ‘contains sodium’: more than 200 mg of sodium per litre

The Consumers’ Advice Centre describes mineral water as “healthy thirst-quencher”, but not all of it is rich in minerals. Those who do not eat dairy products can opt for calcium-enriched water; those who need to watch their salt intake should choose a low-sodium water containing less than 20 mg of sodium per litre. And: expensive does not necessarily mean better.

Tap water also contains electrolytes. Hard water has a higher calcium and magnesium content and, according to the UBA, is not harmful to health but is actually beneficial. You can find out how hard your water is from the analysis provided by your water supplier. To find out when an electrolyte drink is a better option than water, read our article ‘Electrolytes no sugar’.

Microplastics in tap water: what the evidence shows

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) cites drinking water as one of several routes through which people come into contact with microplastics – alongside air, dust, food and cosmetics. According to the BfR, it is not currently possible to say with any certainty how much each route contributes. Studies have also detected microplastics in mineral water; however, reliable, standardised measurement methods are still lacking.

Regarding the health implications, the BfR states: ‘Based on current scientific knowledge, it is unlikely that plastic particles in food pose any health risks to humans. However, a comprehensive assessment is not yet possible due to insufficient data. The evidence therefore does not allow us to declare a clear winner between tap water and bottled water. We have summarised the findings of studies on water from bottles, glass and cans in our article ‘Microplastics in Bottles, Glass and Cans’.

Natural mineral water with carbonation: what the label says

The labelling of carbon dioxide is also regulated. ‘Natural mineral water’ contains, after bottling, the same amount of its own source carbon dioxide as it did at the spring outlet. ‘Enriched with its own natural carbon dioxide’ means that additional carbon dioxide from the same source has been added. ‘Carbonated’ means that the carbon dioxide comes from a different source. Whether sparkling or still suits you better is mainly a matter of taste – read more about this in ‘Sparkling or still?’.

Why ACQUA REAPER Still and Sparkling is called ‘table water’

Our Still and Sparkling cans are labelled ‘table water’, and the label lists natural mineral water as an ingredient. The water comes from a protected spring in the Vulkaneifel.

So why not ‘natural mineral water’? Because this designation may only be used for water that is officially recognised and bottled at the source. Our water is not bottled at the source. That is why the name of the food is ‘table water’ – the regulations expressly permit table water to be produced from natural mineral water. Information on the mineral content does not appear on the label.

To be honest, at home in Germany, the tap is a good choice. Our cans are designed for those moments when there’s no tap nearby – at the bar, in the fridge at the Späti, or when you’re out and about. You can find out how much you should drink each day in our guide to drinking water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Federal Association of Consumer Organisations / Consumer Organisations: Drinking water, mineral water, table water – what are the differences?, as at 17 August 26, accessed 9 November 26. verbraucherzentrale.de
2. Federal Ministry of Justice: Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV 2023), Sections 1, 5, 17, 54, accessed 9 November 2026. gesetze-im-internet.de
3. Federal Ministry of Justice: Mineral and Table Water Regulation (Min/TafelWV), Sections 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10–12, 14, Annex 6, accessed 9 November 2026. gesetze-im-internet.de
4. Federal Environment Agency: Guide ‘Have a drink – tap water’, as at February 2020. umweltbundesamt.de
5. Federal Environment Agency: Drinking water installations: It’s the last few metres that count, 9 June 2020, accessed 9 November 2026. umweltbundesamt.de
6. Federal Environment Agency: Lead pipes: Lead in drinking water is harmful to health (Environmental tips for everyday life), updated 4 August 2026. umweltbundesamt.de
7. Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): FAQ: Microplastics – Facts, Research and Unanswered Questions, 31 May 24. bfr.bund.de
8. ACQUA REAPER: Product labels for still and sparkling water, as at 26 August.